Leg operated steering device for outboard motors



Feb. 27, 1951 J. M. ENGLAND 2,543,490

LEG OPERATED STEERING DEVICE FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed Oct. 4, 1948 James M. Eng/and mmvroza.

Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEG OPERATED STEERING DEVICE FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR-S 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to outboard motors, and has particular reference to a leg operated device for moving an outboard motor so as to steer a boat on which the outboard motor is mounted.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efiicient device adapted for attachment to the steering handle of an outboard motor whereby the helmsman of a boat on which the motor is mounted may use a leg to steer theboat and thereby have his hands free for fishing purposes, etc.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for the steering handle of an outboard motor, whereby the helmsman of the boat on which the motor is mounted may utilize his leg for steering the boat while said helmsman is in a standing position within the stern of the boat Still another object is to provide an attachment of the above kind which is comparatively simple and durable in construction, easy to install, and efiicient in use.

The exact nature of the present invention, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective View showing an embodiment of the present invention in use;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of an attachment embodying the present invention for use as shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4 of Figure 2. a

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates a boat having a conventional. outboard motor 5 mounted on the transom 1 thereof in the usual way by means of a bracket 8, said outboard motor having the usual laterally and rearwardly extending steering handle 9. The numeral II! indicates the usual seat provided in the stern of the boat.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention consists of an attachment for the steering handle 9, said attachment-including an angular bracket I I provided with a rearwardly projecting fork 2 at one end and adapted for rigid attachment at its other end to the steering handle 9, said fork being capable of embracing the leg of a helmsman below the knee so that the helmsman may operate the handle 9 by means of his leg to steer the boat. Bracket Ii consists of an elongated strap iron member twisted at right angles intermediate its ends as indicated at I3 and having one end return-bent to provide spaced portions I4 and I5 having aligned openings, and a connecting portion l6 connecting the portions I4 and E5. The fork I2 has an elongated shank I6 which slidably extends through the openings of portions M and I5 so that the fork may be adjusted longitudinally of the boat. Means is provided to secure the fork I2 in adjusted positions, such means consisting of a bolt I8 extending freely through an opening of the connecting portion I? and having an eye I9 embracing the shank I i, a wing nut 20 being threaded on the bolt I8 outwardly of the connecting portion I6. Obviously, by tightening the nut 20, the eye I 9 may be caused to grip the shank I! and thereby secure the fork I2 in adjusted positions relative to the bracket II.

The bracket I I is attached to the steering handle 9 by suitable means, such as a U-bolt 2I adapted to snugly embrace the handle 9 near its free end and having its legs freely extended through spaced openings in the adjacent end of the bracket II, wing nuts 22 being threaded on the ends of the U-bolt 2| for drawing the latter into tight gripping engagement with the steering handle 9. Due to the obtuse angle form of the bracket II, it extends rearwardly and laterally from the handle 9 toward the longitudinal center of the boat and then transversely of the latter to a point substantially at said center. thereby presenting the fork l2 to the leg of the helmsman at a point where lateral balance of the boat may be maintained when the helmsman assumes a standing position in the stern of the boat as shown in Figure 1. Also, the fork will be disposed at such an elevation that it will embrace the helmsmans leg slightly below the knee when the foot of the same leg is rested upon the seat II), as shown. Thus, the helmsmanmay laterally shift his leg which is engaged in the fork I2 to thereby move the motor 6 and properly steer the boat. By using the present attachment, the helmsman will have both hands free for fishing and other purposes. As the rear seats of different boats may be at different distances from the transoms of the boats, the fork I2 may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly to suit the conditions presented by the particular boat in use. In other words, the fork may be disposed to properly embrace the helmsmans leg even though he may be required to stand at slightly different distances from the outboard motor, ac-

3 cording to the particular boat on which the motor equipped with the present attachment is mounted.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Modifications and changes in details of construction are contemplated, such as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A leg operated steering device for an. outboard motor having a laterally extending steering handle, comprising an angular bracket having means at one end to rigidly secure the same to the steering handle of the outboard motor so as to extend laterally and forwardly therefrom, and a forwardly projecting fork rigidly attached to the other end of said bracket and adapted to embrace the lower segment of a leg of a helmsman for operating said steering handle, said fork having a slidable shank for adjusting said fork relatii e to said bracket.

2. A leg operated steering device for an outboard motor having a laterally extending steering handle, comprising an angular bracket having means at one end to rigidly secure the same to the steering handle of the outboard motor so as to extend laterally and forwardly therefrom and a forwardly projecting fork rigidly attached to the other end of said bracket and adapted to embrace the lower segment of a leg of a helmsman for operating said steering handle, said other end of the bracket being return-bent to provide spaced portions having aligned openings and connecting portion connecting said spaced pertions, said fork having a shank siidahlc in said openings to adjust the fork relative to said bracket, and means to secure the fork in adjusted positions including a nutted clamping bolt extending through said connecting portion and having an eye member embracing said shank.

3. A leg operated steering device for an out board motor having a laterally extending steering handle, comprising an angular bracket having means at one end to rigidly secure the same to the steering handle of the outboard motor so as to extend laterally and forwardly therefrom, and a forwardly projecting fork rigidly attached to the outer end of said bracket and adapted to embrace the lower segment of the leg of a helmsman for operating said steering handle, said other end of the bracket being return bent to provide spaced portions having aligned openings and a connecting portion connecting said spaced portions, said fork having a shank slidable in said opening to adjust the fork relative to said bracket, and means for securing the fork in adjusted positions.

JAMES M. ENGLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 751,876 Smith Feb. 9, 1904 1,078,748 Poage Nov. 18, 1913 1,371,911 Le Compte Mar. 15, 1921 1,434,216 Le Compte Oct. 31, 1922 1,531,638 Zamberletti Mar. 31, 1925 1,777,189 Williams Sept. 30, 1930 1,804,333 Gregoire May 5, 1931 1,825,240 Miller Sept. 29, 1931 2,213,520 Gentry Sept. 3, 1940 2,273,815 Bevington Feb. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,865 Germany Sept. 10, 1883 

